A Florida State University researcher at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering has been awarded a $3.9 million grant from the Air Force Research Laboratory, which is part of the Department of Defense. The funding will support research into hypervelocity technology, focusing on speeds beyond Mach 5.
Rajan Kumar, who chairs the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and directs the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion (FCAAP), is leading the project. He said, “Hypersonic is the word in the air right now. Every major aerospace institution is playing a big role. For us, it is a natural extension because we were already doing a lot of work up to Mach 5. Now, the plan is to expand it beyond that, going up to higher Mach numbers and trying to understand how hypersonic flows are different.”
The grant will allow Kumar’s team to purchase advanced hardware and diagnostics equipment. This technology will help researchers analyze hypervelocity flow physics and develop computational tools for designing future flight systems.
Kumar explained, “This grant involves many researchers of our MAE department. We will be doing some experiments at FCAAP and we will be working with our computational faculty to develop new technologies that are needed for the design and development of next-generation high-speed flight vehicles. This research will be carried out in close collaboration with AFRL scientists and engineers.”
Wind tunnel testing at high speeds remains an important method for developing hypersonic flight vehicles because it costs less than actual flight testing. The project aims to simulate realistic flow conditions in wind tunnels, which is essential for reliable data and progress in hypersonics research.
Kumar added, “We have been working with the Air Force Research Laboratory for nearly 15 to 20 years, supporting a range of high-speed projectile development programs. This new grant is designed to enhance our capabilities in understanding hypervelocity flows with more advanced diagnostics and simulate realistic flow conditions in a wind tunnel, which is critical for reliability and data accuracy.”
The initiative also supports ongoing research projects and student education at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering while preparing for advances in experimental aerodynamics research and training.
The planned hypervelocity test facility will serve as a resource shared by universities, government laboratories, and industry partners. It aims to advance hypersonic vehicle development, experimental flow control technologies, and train future engineers and scientists from diverse backgrounds.
“FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is set to become a national leader in hypersonic research,” Kumar said. “This research will support the Department of Defense’s ongoing interests and help to fill crucial gaps in the understanding of high enthalpy flows at hypersonic speeds.”
